Dwarves

The Dwarf Race in the Flanaess:

An Extensive Exploration

The dwarves of the Flanaess, referred to as "dwur" by the indigenous Flan people, are a proud and ancient race known for their craftsmanship, resilience, and the depth of their traditions. This extensive article delves into the multifaceted aspects of dwarven life in the Flanaess, covering their physical description, history, religion, community life, and political relationships with other races.

Physical Description

Subdivisions

Both Hill and Mountain Dwarves contribute richly to the tapestry of dwarven culture in Greyhawk. From the sunlit slopes where Hill Dwarves forge their strongholds to the shadowy depths that Mountain Dwarves call home, these stalwart races continue to uphold the legacy of dwarvenkind. Their differences in habitat, appearance, and outlook not only highlight the diversity within the dwarven race but also underscore the common values of honor, craftsmanship, and resilience that define them.

Hill Dwarves

Hill Dwarves are often considered the quintessential dwarven race, embodying the traits most commonly associated with dwarvenkind.

Characteristics

• Appearance: Hill Dwarves typically have deeply tanned to light brown skin, with hair colors ranging from black to gray or brown. Their eyes can be of any color except blue.
• Stature: They stand around 4 feet tall and weigh approximately 150 pounds, marked by their sturdy and robust build.
• Disposition: Generally lawful good, Hill Dwarves are known for their strong sense of justice and community.

Cultural Notes

• Heritage: Hill Dwarves claim an ancient lineage, asserting that the hills have always been their home and that other dwarven races descended from them.
• Society: They are the most frequently encountered dwarves by other races, often serving as the face of dwarvenkind in the broader world.

Mountain Dwarves

Mountain Dwarves share many qualities with their Hill Dwarf cousins but are distinct in several key aspects, notably their habitat and physical traits.

Characteristics

• Appearance: These dwarves are paler and taller than their Hill counterparts, with fairer, ruddier skin and a greater height by about half a foot.
• Stature: Mountain Dwarves weigh around 170 pounds, their physique built for the deep and often more dangerous reaches of the undermountain realms.
• Disposition: Like Hill Dwarves, most Mountain Dwarves are lawful good, holding fast to a code of honor and the well-being of their kin.

Cultural Notes

• Origins: Mountain Dwarves believe themselves to be the progenitors of all dwarven races, a claim that places them at the heart of dwarven history and lore.
• Society: Preferring the deeper and more secluded caverns, they have adapted to life underground more so than their hill-dwelling kin, developing unique traditions and crafts suited to their environment.

Characteristics

• Bearded: Both males and females possess beards, a symbol of honor and maturity.
• Stature: Compact and solidly built, embodying strength and endurance.

History and Lore

Origins

The dwarves are secretive about their origins, with known history tracing back to great underground halls in the northern Crystalmists, devastated by the Invoked Devastation. The last High King's demise led to the fragmentation of their clans, a pivotal moment that shapes their current societal structure.

Historical Alliances

Throughout history, dwarves have shown a willingness to ally with elves, gnomes, and select human groups to defend their territories against common threats.

Religion

• Deities and Worship: Dwarven religion deeply reveres ancestors, with significant emphasis on the construction of elaborate monuments in their honor.
• Gold: while a source of wealth, is also a spiritual affliction for some, leading to the dreaded gold-fever.
• Religious Practices: Rituals and ceremonies often involve honoring the deeds of ancestors and the careful stewardship of precious metals and gems.
• Spiritual Beliefs: While gold represents wealth, an excessive obsession, known as gold-fever, is a known spiritual affliction.

Dwarven Community: Pillars of Unity and Defense

The concept of community stands at the core of dwarven society, often taking precedence over the individual. This collective spirit has seen them through countless trials.

• Social Structure: Dwarves live in tightly-knit communities centered around their strongholds and mines, with a clear hierarchy led by lords and princes of noble houses.
• Defensive Stance: Historically positioned as defenders, dwarves rally fiercely when their homes and ways of life are under threat.
• Arranged Marriages: A common practice ensuring the continuation of pure and strong bloodlines.

Culture and Customs

• Materialism: A strong inclination towards accumulating wealth, especially gold, which they masterfully craft into various objects.
• External Coveting: Their rich mines and sturdy dwellings have long attracted the envy of other races, notably the euroz and jebli, who desire dwarven wealth and security.
• Honor: A fundamental aspect of dwarven culture, with significant value placed on beards and the distribution of wealth as a sign of leadership and prosperity.

Historic Hatred: Orcs and Goblindkind

The annals of dwarven history are rife with conflict, particularly against orcs and goblinkind. These battles, often unseen by the world above, have forged a generational loathing.

• Ancient Wars: The strife with orcs and goblins is as old as the dwarven record itself, fought in darkness and isolation.
• Cultural Antipathy: From a young age, every dwarf is steeped in the history of these conflicts, learning to abhor these foes.
• Martial Preparation: By the age of 30, dwarves undergo rigorous training to counter the martial strategies of their perennial adversaries.

Ecology and Lifestyle

Dwarves exhibit a profound distrust of magic, preferring the reliability of their axes and the strength of their forges. Their diet is omnivorous, with a preference for meat and grains, and an aversion to spicy foods.

Lifespan and Reproduction

• Lifespan: Dwarves live approximately 350 years.
• Pregnancy: lasts about ten months, with extended breastfeeding periods.
• Children: Dwarven women bear children roughly once a decade from ages 50-150, with twins being a rarity.
• Alignment: Generally lawful good, with exceptions like the lawful evil duergar and chaotic evil derro and frost dwarves.
• Afterlife Beliefs: Warriors and priests envision an afterlife in a hall of heroes, while craftsfolk believe in a realm of endless labor.

Dwarven Fashion

• Fashion: Traditional attire includes wool trousers, linen tunics, and hooded cloaks, complemented by heavy leather boots.
• Clothing: Their clothing favors earth tones with checkered patterns, adorned with ample jewelry.

Clan System

Structure

• Clans: Dwarven society is fundamentally organized into clans based on familial ties and trade specialization, such as blacksmiths, miners, or merchants.

Apprenticeship and Adulthood

• Training: Apprenticeships start by age 26, lasting 10-12 years, signifying a rite of passage into adulthood at age 50.
• Specialization: Dwarves are highly specialized in their trades, often apprenticed within their clans to maintain and enhance their skills.

Clerical Roles

• Religious Duties: Clerics may leave their clans for their divine callings, with those serving gods of specific trades remaining within their respective clans.

Guilds and Regulations

• Guilds vs. Clans: Guilds within clans regulate the standards of crafts, maintaining the quality and reputation of dwarven craftsmanship.

Social Mobility and Support

• Change of Profession: Dwarves seeking different professions may marry into other clans or, rarely, establish new clans.
• Community Support: Clans provide for their members, expecting hard work and dedication in return.

Loyalties and Family Structure

• Priorities: Loyalties lie with immediate family, clan, stronghold, and then allies, emphasizing a strong communal bond.
• Family Dynamics: A typical family spans at least five generations, reflecting the depth and breadth of dwarven familial ties.

Political Relationships

• With Humans: Dwarves have formed alliances with humans when interests align, especially in matters of trade and defense against common enemies.
• With Elves: Despite their differences, dwarves and elves have a history of cooperation against mutual threats, building a complex relationship that balances rivalry with respect.
• With Gnomes: The relationship with gnomes is generally positive, grounded in mutual respect for craftsmanship and engineering.

Interspecies Dynamics

• Dwarves and Orcs: A long history of warfare against orcs and similar races characterizes the dwarves' martial prowess and contributes to their declining population.
• Trade and Diplomacy: Dwarves engage in trade with other races, leveraging the superior quality of their crafts and goods to maintain economic strength.

Dwarven History in Western Oerik

Early Settlement

• Arrival: Dwarves began settling in Western Oerik around -356 CY, driven by overpopulation in their southern homelands.
• Migration: They migrated in four waves over a century, establishing themselves in the mountain range west of the elven city-states known as Ravilla.

Kingdom Formation

• Mordengard: Circa -215 CY, the Blessed Kingdom of Mordengard was founded under King Smoni's leadership, who was cherished as a ruler.

Turmoil and Transformation

• The Tyrant King: Smoni's third son, who became known as the Tyrant King, poisoned him, seized the throne, and his rule of despotism led to his overthrow.
• Workers' Council: To prevent similar tyranny, a "Worker's Council" was established, transitioning the kingdom into the "People's Republic of Mordengard."

“Yer late, elf!” came the rough edge of a familiar voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay on top of his elven friend. In spite of the added discomfort, the dwarf’s long, pointed, often-broken nose and gray-streaked though still-fiery red beard came as a welcome sight to Drizzt. “Knew I’d find ye in trouble if I came out an’ looked for ye!”

— R. A. Salvatore, The Crystal Shard

Dwarven Warrior by 3orcs

Lifespan

350

Average Height

4" - 4'5"

Average Weight

150 lbs

Dwarven Religion

Dwarven religion is rich and multifaceted, reflecting their complex worldview and values.

Dwarven Cleric by 3orcs

Creation and Deities

Moradin: Dwarves view themselves as the creations of Moradin, whom they often credit with crafting the world and all gods of every race. Moradin's symbol is a hammer and anvil, representing dwarves, smithing, engineering, creation, and war.

Mythology

Variant Myth: The Scrolls of Narvil suggest that the original creator was imprisoned by lesser gods, jealous of his power. Dragons were born from droplets of molten stone he blew on, and the sparks from his forge reignited became the stars.

Dwarven Pantheon

The dwarven pantheon includes:

• Abbathor
• Berronar Truesilver
• Clanggedin Silverbeard
• Dugmaren Brightmantle
• Dumathoin
• Gendwar Argrim
• Moradin
• Muamman Duathal
• Vergadain

Evil Subraces Deities

• Derro: Worship Diirinka and Diinkarazan.
• Duergar: Follow Laduguer.
• Frost Dwarves: Worship Kostchtchie.

Dwarven Language

Dwarves have their own distinct languages and dialects that facilitate their interaction with the world and other races.

• Dwarven: The native tongue of the dwarves.
• Undercommon: The trade language of the Underdark, known by many dwarves.
• Common: Known by those who regularly deal with other races.
• Goblin: Often learned by dwarven warriors for strategic purposes.

Dwarf names

A dwarf’s name is granted by a clan elder, in accordance with tradition. Every proper dwarven name has been used and reused down through the generations. A dwarf’s name belongs to the clan, not to the individual. A dwarf who misuses or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and forbidden by law to use any dwarven name in its place.
Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor, Bruenor, Dain, Darrak, Delg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim, Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik, Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin, Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal
Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn, Dagnal, Diesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda, Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, Ilde, Liftrasa, Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra
Clan Names: Balderk, Battlehammer, Brawnanvil, Dankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek, Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln, Torunn, Ungart